The Battle of Hillsboro

by Jesse S. Smith

Smith, Jesse S.

112 pages, Paperback

First published December 23, 2009

Reviews

[Jami Lilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the beginning and I enjoyed the entire ride along as the misfit gang grows into a small military in order to take over a small town. The wit and humor had me rereading lines just so I could laugh again. A pet peeve of mine is when books are sold as "hilarious" and then they're not funny. The Battle of Hillsboro is the opposite, it's a pleasant surprise time and time again due to the author's impeccable timing and satire. I actually cared about the narrator, his every man life, and his desire to do something important. It's a theme that fits into any time period and is explored with a hidden, insidious depth that sneaks up on you. The characters are so unlikeable and true that you actually are cheering for their preposterous adventure and secretly hoping it all works out for them, but know in your gut that it won't. It's can't! But will it? I'm not one for spoilers, so trust me that if you are looking for an interesting, fast paced, action and tension packed, but smart journey, The Battle of Hillsboro does not disappoint. I look forward to reading more of Jesse S. Smith's work. Highly Recommend.

[Sarah Green-Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

My star rating is not meant to put a rating on the quality or skill of the writer. Merely enjoyment level. I liked it.

It's wild, real, gritty ride, and an uncomfortable one. Which, I think, is something it's meant to be. Uncomfortable often means the author was working their craft very right. I was impressed with the amount of research that had to have gone into this and the author's ability to dig into action and make it real for the reader.

As far as the story itself: it's haunting. I almost want to call it a cautionary tale in disguise. What you take it as caution against is up to you. ;o) My mind continually went to a scripture: the way of transgressors is hard. ;o)

But it's still an interesting dive into questions about what makes good or bad, what makes a worthy cause, what justifies war? Who are the heroes, who are not? I've wondered about this many times, and The Battle of Hillsboro gave me more to think about. :o)

[Cassondra Windwalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smith is an excellent storyteller: the reader forgets the process entirely and is swept up in the conversation, unwilling to get out of the chair or leave the room till the speaker concludes his tale. The mind instinctively and repeatedly attempts to empathize with the narrator, but every point of contact will later burn with doubt and unease. What keeps the book's premise from unfolding every day in real life is a recurring question raised throughout the story. This book worms into the brain with the rattling, almost cheery relay of a folk tale but functions as the most serious of satires. Provocative and troubling.